Augusta Correctional Center
Augusta Correctional Center is a close custody prison for male inmates that is located near Craigsville, Virginia. It can house a maximum of 1,222 inmates who have been sentenced to life and multiple life sentences. This facility is operated by the Virginia Department of Corrections.
Augusta Correctional Center opened in 1986 and it houses inmates with the longest sentences in the DOC. The inmates are very restricted and are confined to their cells most of the day. Inmates housed at Augusta may not be transferred to a less secure facility unless they have been free of disciplinary issues for at least two years.
Prison Insights
Augusta Correctional Center
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Visiting Hours and Rules
Visiting hours at Augusta Correctional Center are on Saturdays and Sundays. The schedule rotates based on the first letter of the inmate's last name. You must contact the facility directly for the current visitation schedule.
Applying for Visitation
If you are a new visitor – or if you are renewing your visiting privileges – you can submit a visitation application online.
All visitor applications expire three years after the date they are approved. To continue visiting your inmate without interruption, submit a new visitor application online at least 30 days before expiration for in-state visitors and 90 days before expiration for out-of-state visitors.
If you would like to apply for a minor to visit an inmate, you must attach their application to an adult application. Complete the online visitation application and then follow the prompts to add a minor. If needed, you can add more than one minor to your application.
If you are not the minor's parent or legal guardian, permission must be documented on a Notarized Statement – Minor Visitor form.
What to Bring
You will need to bring at least one form of valid picture identification that matches the information on your application. Acceptable forms of ID include:
- Driver’s License
- Passport
- Military ID
- Other official picture ID issued by a federal or state agency
Dress Code
All visitors, including children, must follow the dress code when visiting an inmate. Please adhere to the following guidelines when visiting Augusta Correctional Center.
- All clothing must cover from the neck to the kneecaps. You must also wear appropriate underwear, and footwear must be worn at all times.
- Attire can't be inappropriate in any way. It can't contain symbols or signs with inappropriate language or graphics. You can't wear watches or any other wearable technology.
If your wardrobe is considered inappropriate, you will be referred to the administrative duty officer. They will make the final decision on whether or not you are allowed to enter the visiting room.
Video Visitation
The Virginia Department of Corrections offers video visitation in partnership with Assisting Families of Inmates (AFOI). Inmates must meet prerequisites to be eligible for video visitation.
As a family member or friend, you are able to initiate the video visitation application process. You must first go through the Virginia Department of Corrections' standard visitation application process. Then, you need to mail the completed video visitation application with the fee to the appropriate AFOI video visitation center. You can find more information on video visitation fees on the AFOI website.
AFOI visitation centers typically host video visitation on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Hours may vary for the Augusta Correctional Center. View the current list of AFOI visitation centers on the organization's website.
Once you make your appointment, the video visitation center will verify your information with the facility and schedule the date and time of your video visit. The visitor center will also contact you and confirm your appointment.
Physical Address
Augusta Correctional Center
1821 Estaline Valley Road
Craigsville, Virginia 24430
Driving Directions: https://goo.gl/maps/ELfahxvAJJo5s3ue8
General Phone Number
(540)-997-7000
Inmate Mailing Address(es)
Inmate name and DOC number
Augusta Correctional Center
1821 Estaline Valley Road
Craigsville, Virginia 24430
All incoming offender mail at Augusta is photocopied. Only the photocopies are delivered to the offender. The original envelope and enclosed mail contents, including personal photos, will be shredded after they are photocopied.
A maximum of three 8.5”X 11” photocopied black and white pages, front and back, are allowed per mailing. This includes a copy of the envelope as one of the three front and back photocopied pages.
Accepted Mail:
- Letters
- Greeting cards
- Postcards
- Appropriate photos (no pornographic, obscene, or offensive imagery)
Rejected Mail:
- Money orders, cash, checks, or other items of monetary value (send money to an offender with JPay)
- Postage stamps
- Prepaid postage envelopes or postcards
- Nude or semi-nude images of anyone
- Contraband or other items not in compliance with Operating Procedure 802.1
How to Call an Inmate
You can't call an inmate at Augusta Correctional Center, but they do have access to phones during certain hours. For complete details on how to call an inmate in Virginia, please click here.
How to Send Money
Online or Mobile App:
The fastest way to send money to an inmate at Augusta Correctional Center is by using a credit or debit card and making an online payment through JPay. To send money directly from a mobile device, download the JPay mobile app (Android, Apple iOS).
Phone:
Call JPay at 1 (800) 574-5729 to make payments over the phone any time 24/7.
Cash:
Make a cash deposit at any MoneyGram agent location (including Walmart and CVS Pharmacy). View the list of nearby MoneyGram locations.
Money Order:
Send all money orders with a deposit slip to:
JPay
P.O. Box 278170
Miramar, FL 33027
Please do not mail money, including checks, cash, and other items of monetary value to your inmate at Augusta Correctional Center. They will be rejected.
Programs For Inmates
Adult Basic Education: Students are instructed in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills that are necessary to function independently in society as workers, family members, and citizens. ABE leads to adult secondary studies in preparation for High School Equivalency (HSE).
Aggression Alternative Skills: This program focuses on dealing with feelings of anger, along with further practice in applying cognitive self-change and aggression replacement skills to the identified problem situations.
Business Software Applications: This program emphasizes proficiency with the Microsoft Office application suite. Students broaden their skills through the study of basic computer network concepts and software installation, configuration, and keyboarding skills.
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Substance Abusers: This is an evidence-based substance abuse program designed specifically for prison inmates. The program places heavy emphasis on skill-building activities to assist with cognitive, social, emotional, and coping skill development.
Computer Literacy: This program provides instruction that will enable the students to use basic skills for computer literacy.
Custodial Maintenance and Sanitation: Students in this class learn how to use a wide variety of cleaning equipment and chemicals used in the cleaning industry safely and effectively. Some of the areas of instruction are wall cleaning, window cleaning, carpet and upholstery care, floor care, and starting and operating a cleaning business in Virginia.
Economics and Personal Finance: This class teaches students about money, budgeting, cost of money, banking, credit, insurance, investing, retirement planning, as well as financial planning and management.
High School Equivalency: Students earn their GED when they pass the Virginia Department of Education-approved GED HSE exam.
Intro to Computers: This program gives students instruction to become competent in basic personal computer operations. Topics studied include the fundamentals of keyboarding and numeric data entry, file management, and navigation techniques of a Windows-based operating system, and oral and written business communication skills.
Ready To Work: The goal of Ready to Work is to increase an inmate's marketability for employment. Participants create resumes, conduct job searches, complete job applications, practice interviewing, learn about the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, practice dealing with rejection, and learn job retention skills.
Re-entry — Money Smart: Making Cents Out of Your Finances: This video program focuses on various aspects of money management. Participants view short segments like: Understanding Your Paycheck, Planning for Rainy Days and Your Future, Managing Your Expenses Online, Borrowing and Paying Your Debts, and Living Within Your Means and Sharing With Others.
Re-entry – Resource and Employment Fair: The purpose of a Re-entry Resource and Employment Fair is to introduce returning citizens to community organizations and agencies that provide post-release assistance and potential job opportunities.
Resources for Successful Living: This program helps inmates with identifying and using resources for successful re-entry. It mostly consists of seminars that cover topics like managing new relationships, maintaining health, and using resources like the Virginia Department of Social Services, the Virginia Department of Veteran Services, etc.
Restrictive Housing Program: In order to help inmates who spend long periods of time in restrictive housing and return them to the general population as soon as possible, a restrictive housing program was developed to address cognitive thinking errors.
Restrictive Housing – Corrective Actions: The Corrective Actions journal series guides participants through an evaluation of the criminal values that have influenced their lives and helps them weigh the consequences of living a life based on criminal values versus responsible values.
In this program, inmates are encouraged to examine eight basic thinking errors that lead to criminal behavior. It stresses the importance of changing the way people think as the key to changing their feelings and behavior. Journal topics include: My Change Plan, The Con Game, Thinking Errors, Values for Responsible Living, Making Changes, Preparing for Change, and Lessons Learned.
Restrictive Housing – Lessons Learned: This interactive, journal-based program helps participants learn the normal cycle of change, effective strategies for making changes, and specific strategies they believe will be most helpful in their efforts to reinvest in their change process.
Restrictive Housing – Making Changes: This program includes a journal that introduces inmates to the links between their risk factors and offending behaviors. Journaling helps the participants recognize their problems and increases motivation to change.
Restrictive Housing – Preparing for Change: This journal-based program features information and activities designed to help offenders look closely at current situations and consider changes they may want to make.
Roofing and Siding: This program provides instruction on the fundamentals of roofing and siding installation. The students are taught how to install different types of roofing products such as felt paper, shingles, and vinyl siding. The major areas of instruction are roofing materials and tools, layout and application of roofing materials, vinyl siding materials and tools, vinyl siding layout and application, and estimating and contract writing.
Special Education: Instruction designed to meet the needs of those who qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). This includes inmates with cognitive impairment, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, or qualifying emotional disabilities.
Substance Abuse – Drug and Alcohol Education: This cognitive-based program from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation helps inmates monitor and change their thinking and attitudes towards substance abuse.
Thinking for a Change: The Thinking for a Change (T4C) program is designed to teach inmates appropriate social skills, help them develop problem-solving strategies, and teach them appropriate cognitive restructuring techniques. The goal is to decrease criminal thinking.
Victim Impact – Listen and Learn: This program focuses on 10 core crime topics – assault, domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, drunk and impaired driving, homicide, hate and bias, robbery, gang violence, and property crime. The curriculum focuses on inmate accountability, impact of crime on victims, the “ripple effect” of crime, and victims’ rights.
Pictures of Augusta Correctional Center
Careers at Augusta Correctional Center
If you are interested in a career with the Virginia Department of Corrections and would like more information about job listings at the Augusta Correctional Center, click here.
